Making and Keeping Friends
July 24, 2022
Biblical World View vs. Secular World View
August 3, 2022Three Things the Holy Spirit Does
The Holy Spirit’s ministry brings to the world’s consciousness three things:
- a correct perception of sin
- a correct perception of righteousness
- an accurate perception of judgment
The word sin means to fall short of the mark. We all do! But, it takes the Holy Spirit to show us where we are! It takes the power of God for us to see just how much we have missed the mark. Paul wrote, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). No one makes the cut, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom 3:10).
Isaiah wrote, “The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand” (Isaiah 1:3). The Ox and the donkey are not the smartest animals in the corral, but they know who feeds them. But we often live as if we are responsible for everything. We try to satisfy ourselves but always wind up hungry, empty, and sad.
We need a correct perception of righteousness. Jesus told us in his Sermon on the Mount, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). Jesus described God’s standard of righteousness as perfection! “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48).
Christ’s teaching was vindicated when he was accepted back to Heaven by the Father: When Almighty God raised Jesus from the dead, he accepted Christ—Jesus was God’s model of righteousness.
The Holy Spirit convinces us that our own righteousness does not come close to Jesus’ righteousness. Once we are convicted, we abandon all efforts at self-righteousness. We surrender all hope of salvation through our righteousness.
We need a correct perception of judgment. The Holy Spirit convinces the world that there is such a thing as judgment. We become aware of our destiny and that we are undone and unprepared.
The judgment of Satan and the breaking of his power at the cross is proof of that. While Jesus was on the cross, Satan threw everything he had at him, but after dying for our sins, Jesus rose from the dead. Paul writes, “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people” (Eph 4:8). He led a victory parade!
The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is his work, not ours. Amazingly, while it is the Holy Spirit’s job to bring conviction, he accomplishes this work through us.
